Matthew 14:22-33 (NLT): “22Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that His disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while He sent the people home. 23After sending them home, He went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone. 24Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So, Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
I don’t know if you have ever had doubt in your life when the winds blow as they did last week, but one of the primary values in having doubt is that it helps us mature in our Christian walk. It assists us by nurturing a more spiritually examined life and a reason for the hope that is within us.
If you have had doubts in the winds and storms of life but you didn’t want to remain there, you became motivated to pray. . . “O God, save me.” When you call out to Him, your faith starts to develop, and you begin to take Him into your life completely. Sometimes, doubt will bring you to a realization that you have placed God in a box. You don’t think you need Him, and you get stuck.
I have found that in my own life: I desperately need to possess a living faith when doubts arise. It is a definite requisite when I can’t see the outcome, when the storms come, the winds blow, destruction follows, and I am no longer in control. It is only needed when what I know intellectually replaces a need to have that unshakable faith.
I may erroneously come to a belief that I don’t need God—I can do it on my own! When my personal knowledge and knowhow arrives on the scene . . . faith is no longer needed. But then doubts multiply . . . chaos and confusion follow. I learn unequivocally that I can’t control the storms of life; I can’t control the winds that blow; and I can’t stop the waves. That’s when I know that I desperately need God to be in control.
You see . . . when the winds subside and the storms of life pass . . . the air becomes fragrant with the very breath of God! Always in His Service, Pastor Ron Fellowship Church of the Nazarene